Yukon MP backs bill to repeal long-gun registry

The Yukon's Member of Parliament says he will support a private member's bill to scrap the government's long-gun registry when it goes up for a vote this week in the House of Commons.

Yukon Liberal MP Larry Bagnell said he will vote in favour of the bill, which is being presented by Manitoba Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner, when it comes up for a first vote on second reading Wednesday.

"A lot of people in rural and remote parts of Canada don't think the registry's the most effective way to fight crime, or that it's effective," Bagnell told CBC News.

Hoeppner said her bill would not changegun licensing requirements but rather "just end the long-gun registry portion" (versus small arms and handguns) of the firearms program.

Free vote

The Portage-Lisgar MP said she hopes other members will vote on whether to abolish the gun registry based on the wishes of their constituents rather than party lines.

"In order to see this pass, I think that's what we are hoping for that the opposition parties will allow a free vote, as is the tradition on private member's bills," she said.

Bagnell said the gun registry issue has long split the House of Commons by urban-rural lines, with most urban MPs supporting the registry and many rural MPs opposing it.

"In urban cities, a lot of people are terrified of guns or the people that could have guns," he said. "They don't see why you would have a gun in the city.

"I just try to convince them how passionately people in rural areas not all, but some people in the rural areas, are opposed to it."

Bagnell said he still wants to hear from Yukoners on the issue, but for now, he plans to vote in favour of abolishing the gun registry.